2015 Edition

Background

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state, but he died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election.

Area

land

227,533 sq km

total

238,533 sq km

water

11,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Coastline

539 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Afadjato 885 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

48.82 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi)

Irrigated land

309 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1,098 km

total

2,420 km

Land use

arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 11.9%; permanent pasture 36.5%

agricultural land

69.1%

forest

21.2%

other

9.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts

Natural resources

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Total renewable water resources

53.2 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

38.38% (male 5,076,131/female 5,027,960)

15-24 years

18.69% (male 2,449,026/female 2,472,756)

25-54 years

33.95% (male 4,338,197/female 4,598,796)

55-64 years

4.84% (male 619,516/female 654,720)

65 years and over

4.14% (male 505,056/female 585,491) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

31.09 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

34% (2006 est.)

total number

1,806,750

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13.4% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

19.5% (2013)

Death rate

7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.9%

potential support ratio

17% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

73%

youth dependency ratio

67.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 92.6% of population

rural: 84% of population

total: 88.7% of population

urban: 7.4% of population

rural: 16% of population

total: 11.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande 1.1%, other 1.4% (2010 est.)

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.47% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

250,200 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

33.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

41.39 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2%

note

English is the official language (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.66 years (2015 est.)

male

63.76 years

total population

66.18 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

71.4% (2015 est.)

male

82%

total population

76.6%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

Kumasi 2.599 million; ACCRA (capital) 2.277 million (2015)

Median age

female

21.4 years (2015 est.)

male

20.5 years

total

20.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Ghanaian

noun

Ghanaian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.9% (2014)

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

26,327,649

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.18% (2015 est.)

Religions

Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 20.2% of population

rural: 8.6% of population

total: 14.9% of population

urban: 79.8% of population

rural: 91.4% of population

total: 85.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2012)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.06 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

54% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Capital

geographic coordinates

5 33 N, 0 13 W

name

Accra

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993; amended 1996 (2012)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Ghana

conventional short form

Ghana

former

Gold Coast

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ (since 11 September 2012)

embassy

24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra

FAX

[233] 30-2741-389

mailing address

P. O. Box 194, Accra

telephone

[233] 30-2741-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Martha Ama Akyaa POBEE (since 31 July 2015)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 686-4527

telephone

[1] (202) 686-4520

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament

chief of state

President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed the presidency after the death of President John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election; the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

John Dramani MAHAMA elected president; percent of vote - John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 50.7%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 47.7%, other 1.6%

elections/appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016)

head of government

President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom

note

uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 12 justices)

judge selection and term of office

chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NPP 47.5%, NDC 46.4%, PNC 0.6%, independent 2.5%, other 3.0%; seats by party - NDC 150, NPP 120, PNC 1, independent 3, other 1

elections

last held on 7 - 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/Philip GBEHO

name

"God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"

note

music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

National symbol(s)

black star, golden eagle: national colors: red, yellow, green, black

Political parties and leaders

Convention People's Party or CPP [Samia NKRUMAH]

National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA]

New Patriotic Party or NPP [Paul AFOKO]

People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]

note

listed are four of the more popular political parties as of December 2012; there are more than 20 registered parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Christian Aid (water rights)

Committee for Joint Action or CJA (social and economic issues)

National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights)

Oxfam (water rights)

Public Citizen (water rights)

Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform)

Third World Network (social and economic issues)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Budget

expenditures

$11.63 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$8.226 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

21% (31 December 2014)

16% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

30% (31 December 2014 est.)

25.6% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.331 billion (2014 est.)

-$5.704 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$12.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.46 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.3 (2012-13)

41.9 (2005-06)

Economy - overview

Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region. Ghana is well-endowed with natural resources. Agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. The services sector accounts for about half of GDP. Gold and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the recent oil price crash has reduced by half Ghana’s 2015 anticipated oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's offshore oil field, began in mid-December 2010 and currently produces roughly 110,000 barrels per day. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atubao is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. As of 2015, the biggest single economic issue is the lack of consistent electricity. While the MAHAMA administration is taking steps to improve the situation, it will be the third or fourth quarter of 2015 before any relief is visible. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April, 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets will require Ghana to reduce the fiscal deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, and increasing revenues. The challenge for Ghana will come as the MAHAMA Administration approaches the 2016 election cycle facing public dissatisfaction in the midst of economic austerity.

Exchange rates

cedis (GHC) per US dollar -

2.881 (2014 est.)

1.98 (2013 est.)

1.8 (2012 est.)

1.512 (2011 est.)

1.431 (2010 est.)

Exports

$13.22 billion (2014 est.)

$13.75 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products

Exports - partners

China 10.7%, France 9%, Netherlands 7.3%, India 7.3%, South Africa 6.6%, Italy 6.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

42.1%

government consumption

17.7%

household consumption

61.3%

imports of goods and services

-46.2%

investment in fixed capital

23.6%

investment in inventories

1.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

22%

industry

28.4%

services

49.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,100 (2014 est.)

$4,000 (2013 est.)

$3,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2014 est.)

7.3% (2013 est.)

8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.65 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$108.3 billion (2014 est.)

$103.9 billion (2013 est.)

$96.84 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

15.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

14.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

16.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.8% (2006)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$14.57 billion (2014 est.)

$17.6 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 25.5%, Nigeria 13.1%, Netherlands 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 7.2%, US 6.9%, India 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2014 est.)

Industries

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

17% (2014 est.)

13.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

11.25 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

44.7%

industry

14.4%

services

40.9% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.465 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$3.097 billion (31 December 2011)

$3.531 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

24.2% (2013 est.)

Public debt

72.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

55.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.461 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.632 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.82 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.65 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$16.62 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$109 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$19.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$11.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$13.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$15.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.119 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.232 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.098 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

32,060 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

110,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

660 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

10.58 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

122 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

45% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

54% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

27 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.847 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

12.87 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

615 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

615 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

66,570 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

9,977 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

37,240 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

22,130 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code

.gh

Internet users

percent of population

19.6% (2014 est.)

total

5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Telephone system

domestic

competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 80 per 100 persons and rising

general assessment

primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra

international

country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

260,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2014 est.)

total

30.4 million

Television broadcast stations

7 (2007)

Airports

10 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

7

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2013)

total

3

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned

2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)

total

4

Pipelines

gas 394 km; oil 20 km; refined products 361 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Takoradi, Tema

Railways

narrow gauge

947 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)

total

947 km

Roadways

paved

13,787 km

total

109,515 km

unpaved

95,728 km (2009)

Waterways

1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

6,194,339 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,268,191

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

4,220,761 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,136,406

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

260,992 (2010 est.)

male

267,896

Military branches

Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)

Military expenditures

0.56% of GDP (2014)

0.61% of GDP (2013)

0.27% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)

Disputes - international

disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money-laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

9,779 (Cote d'Ivoire; flight from 2010 post-election fighting); 5,262 (Liberia) (2014)